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HAIR LOSS PREVENTION

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DISCLAIMER

Note that the contents here are not presented from a

medical practitioner, and that any and all health care

planning should be made under the guidance of your own

medical and health practitioners. The content within only

presents an overview based upon research for educational

purposes and does not replace medical advice from a

practicing phys ician. Further, the information in this

manual is provided "as is" and without warranties of any

kind either expressed or implied. Under no circumstances,

includ ing, but not lim ited to, negligence, shall the

seller/distr ibutor of this information be liable for any

special or consequentia l damages that result from the use

of, or the inability to use, the information presented here.

The best start to preventing hair loss is understanding the

basics of hair: what it is, how it grows, what system

malfunctions can cause it to stop growing. And this ebook

will cover the bases for you. Note that the contents here

are not presented from a medical practitioner, and that any

and all dietary and medical planning should be made under

the guidance of your own medical and health practitioners.

This content only presents overviews of hair loss prevention

research for educational purposes and does not replace

medical advice from a professional physician.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

MORE HAIR FACTS AND HAIR LOSS BASICS

DIET, NUTRITION AND HAIR LOSS

NATURAL HAIR LOSS REMEDIES

GOOD GROOMING AND CARE

BLACK HAIR BASICS

HAIR AND SCALP DISEASES

WOMEN�S ISSUES

HAIR REPLACEMENT AND RESTORATION TECHNIQUES

OVER THE COUNTER TREATMENTS

PRESCRIPTION DRUG TREATMENTS

SUMMARY

RESOURCES FOR HAIR CARE AND HAIR LOSS PREVENTION


Introduction

Hair is the fastest growing tissue of the body, made up of

proteins called keratins. Every strand of hair is made up of

three layers: the inner layer or medulla (only present in

thick hairs); the midd le layer or cortex, which determines

the strength, texture, and color of hair; and the cuticle,

which protects the cortex. Hair grows from roots, which are

enclosed in follic les. Below this is a layer of skin called the

dermal papilla, which is fed by the bloodstream carrying

nourishments vita l to the growth of hair. Only the roots of

hair are actually alive, while the vis ible part of hair is dead

tissue, and therefore unable to heal itself . It is vita l then to

take care of the scalp and body in order to perpetuate hair

growth and maintenance. Expensive treatments that cla im

to treat the vis ible hair and nourish it therefore are usually

no more than bogus cla ims made to sell products.

Hormones called androgens, usually testosterone, can

cause hair follicles to shr ink, causing thinning of hair or

eventual hair loss. Reportedly only bone marrow grows

faster in our body than hair does. The average scalp

contains 100,000-150,000 hair follicles and hairs, with 90%

growing and 10% resting at any given time. Hair actually

grows in three stages: anagen, catagen, and telogen. The

anagen phase is the phase where hair is actively growing,

and of course this phase is longer for follicles in the scalp

than anywhere else on your body, and lasts longer for


women than men. It is natural for follicles to atrophy and

hair to fa ll out, and this is called the catagen phase. This

phase is only temporary, and eventually the follicle enters

the telogen phase where it is resting. These are the 10% at

rest mentioned above. Normal anagen phases last

approximately f ive years, with catagen phases lasting about

three weeks, and telogen phases lasting approximately 12

weeks. As you see it is natural to lose some hair. Natural

hair loss is considered to be in the range of 100 hairs per

day. It is not apparent to most people that hair is actually

being lost unt il more than 50% of a person�s hair is actually

lost.


More Hair Facts and Hair Loss Basics

Although both men and women can suffer s ignif icant hair

loss, over 50% of men will suffer with Male Pattern

Baldness (MPB), also known as androgenetic alopecia, at

some point in their lives. The reason behind hair loss is a

genetically inherited sensitivity to Dihydrotestosterone

(DHT) and 5-alpha-reductase. The enzyme 5-alpha-

reductase converts testosterone, a male hormone, to DHT,

the substance identif ied as the end-cause for hair loss.

Most hair loss follows a pattern that has been codif ied in a

table called the Norwood Scale (see f igure 1). There are

seven patterns of hair identif ied in the Norwood Scale,

Norwood I being a normal head of hair with no vis ible hair

loss, Norwood II showing the hair receding in a wedge-

shaped pattern. Norwood III shows the same receding

pattern as Norwood II, except the hair line has receded

deeper into the frontal area and the temporal area. Type IV

on the Norwood Scale indicates a hair line that has receded

more dramatically in the frontal region and temporal area.

Addit ional ly there is a balding area at the very top center

of the head, but there is a br idge of hair remaining

between that region and the front. Type V on the Norwood

Scale shows that very same bridge between the frontal

region and the top center, a lso called the vertex, beginning

to thin. Type VI on the Norwood Scale indicates that the

br idge between the frontal region and the vertex has

disappeared. F inally, Type VII on the Norwood Scale shows


hair receding all the way back to the base of the head and

the sides just above the ears. Norwood patterns are

determined genetically.

F igure 1. Norwood Scale

Hair loss has been noticed and studied throughout the

ages, and some interesting discoveries were made in

ancient times. For one it was noticed that eunuchs: those

males without genitals-never went bald. Men who were

castrated as a result of accidents in battle also never went

bald. This was the f irst indication that testosterone had

something to do with hair loss. It has also been found that


the more recessive the hair gene, the more propensity

toward baldness one has. Blond-haired persons have a

greater propensity toward hair loss than darker-haired

people, and therefore Caucasian persons have a greater

propensity toward hair loss than non-Caucasian people.

Beyond the genetic propensity of certain people toward hair

loss, there seems to be various dietary tr iggers that

activate the process, a notion that is promising since this

can be controlled.

What exactly are androgens? Androgens are sex hormones

mainly produced by males, the main one of which is

testosterone. Androgens are produced by the adrenal

glands, which protect the body in stressful s ituations by

also producing adrenaline so that the body may respond to

situations it deems to be threatening. The stress of daily

life in Western civilization has caused a state of alarm in

people that has made the body unable to distinguish

between everyday stressors and threatening s ituations.

Therefore the adrenal glands in most people in Western

civil izations are overactive, constantly producing adrenaline

and naturally producing testosterone along with it.

Addit ional ly, the over-consumption of red meat and high fat

foods in Western society cause an overactive adrenal gland,

perpetuating this s ituation.

There is a def inite connection between the syndrome of

Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) and the prostate gland. The

prostate gland is actually a cluster of small glands in males

surrounding the urethra, located just below the bladder.


There is not a lot known about all the functions of the

prostate, except that it serves to squeeze seminal f luid into

and through the urethra during ejaculation. Prostate

problems can cause ser ious problems with ur ination it

becomes enlarged, and sometimes the prostate becomes

cancerous. The syndrome of non-cancerous enlargement of

the prostate is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia

(BPH). DHT is responsible for the divis ion of cells in the

prostate, and is normally expelled by the prostate.

However, when the prostate fails to expel the DHT, it builds

up and causes enlargement. It has been conf irmed that

typical North American and northern European diets lend to

the perpetuation of BPH and prostate cancer, whereas

these are uncommon phenomena in other lands and was

even uncommon here in the past. This is s ignif icant

because the overproduction of DHT is responsible for BPH

and prostate cancer, and is a lso responsible for MPB or

androgenetic alopecia. The f indings in research for BPH

cures have usually s imultaneously produced benef its in hair

growth. We shall cover some of these discoveries in various

sections of this book. Additional ly, changes in diet are

necessary to avoid all of these conditions and improve

overall health.

Some common myths have ar isen concerning hair loss.

Because of medical advancements many of these myths are

being addressed and corrected. For starters, a lthough

androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness is genetic and

therefore can be hereditary, it is not passed down through

only your mother �s s ide of the family. Either side of the


family can pass down the genetic disposition toward

baldness. Also, contrary to old family ta les, wearing hats

does not cause baldness either.

Most common hair loss comes under what has been

commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). Although

referred to as MPB, females suffer a s imilar syndrome, so it

is more properly called androgenetic alopecia. Although hair

loss is not life or health threatening, it can cause ser ious

problems with a person�s psyche and self-conf idence. There

has been no absolute cure found for hair loss, and many

factors of hair loss are hereditary, however there are

several preventative measures one can take to maintain

healthy hair and scalp.


Diet, Nutrition and Hair Loss

One key factor in maintaining a growing protein on a part

of one�s biolog ical body is obvious: one must maintain a

healthy diet. Although certain factors have been def initely

identif ied as contr ibutors to hair loss, we must keep in

mind that hair is part of the complete biological system of

the human body. Being a system, dysfunctions in one part

of the system can contr ibute to dysfunctions in other parts;

chain reactions occur when one part of the body

malfunctions, causing other parts within the system to

falter. To maintain optimum health, it is best to maintain a

healthy diet and regular exercise regimen.

Def ining exactly what a healthy diet is when it comes to

preventing hair loss can be a litt le more complex.

Pr incipally, the main vitamins, minerals, and nutr ients that

one must ingest in some form to maintain healthy hair are

vitamin A, all B vitamins-particular ly vitamins B-6 and B-12,

folic acid, biot in, vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, iron, z inc,

iodine, protein of course, s ilica, essentia l fatty acids (EFA�s,

formerly known as vitamin F) and last but not least one

must consume water. There are also certain foods that may

cause dysfunctions that will contr ibute to hair loss.

The best way to maintain a healthy vitamin and mineral

intake is a good diet. It is not necessary or advisable to go

out and buy a bunch of over-the-counter vitamin


supplements in order to achieve your suggested nutr itional

levels. Many over-the-counter vitamins are chemically

processed and are not completely absorbed into the

system. It is also easy to overdose oneself with over the

counter vitamins particular ly when taking supplements of

fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, causing toxicity and

adverse reactions. The likelihood of doing th is is far less

with food; therefore it is a lways best to obtain the bulk of

your vitamin and mineral requirements from whole foods.

Vitamin A is a key component to developing healthy cells

and tissues in the body, includ ing hair. Addit ional ly it works

with silica and zinc to prevent drying and clogging of the

sebaceous glands, the glands vita l to producing sebum,

which is an important lubricant for the hair follicle. V itamin

A def iciencies commonly cause thickening of the scalp, dry

hair, and dandruff. Air pollution, smoking, extremely br ight

light, certain cholesterol- lowering drugs, laxatives, and

aspir in are some known vitamin A inhib itors. Liver, f ish oil,

eggs, fortif ied milk, and red, yellow, and orange vegetables

are good sources for vitamin A, as are some dark green

leafy vegetables like spinach. Be particular ly careful if you

take vitamin A supplements, as vitamin A is fat-soluble,

allowing the body to store it and making it easy for the

body to overdose on vitamin A. Vitamin A overdoses can

cause excessively dry skin and inf lamed hair follicles, and

in some cases ironically can cause hair loss. If you choose

to take supplements of this vitamin, consult with a

specialist f irst. As mentioned above, the likelihood of

overdosing by achieving your vitamin A intake by food

sources is a lmost nil, so it is best to attempt to achieve this


at all costs.

B-vitamins work interdependently and therefore all levels of

B vitamins need to be suff icient in order to maintain proper

health. Vitamins B-6, folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B-12 are

all key components in maintaining healthy hemoglobin

levels in the blood, which is the iron-contain ing portion of

red-blood cells. Hemoglob in�s pr imary function is to carry

oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body, so if

these vitamins were def icient in one�s body, then hair and

skin would indeed suffer. Fortunately some of the tastiest

foods contain these vitamins. Vitamin B-6 is found in

protein r ich foods, which is excellent because the body

needs a suff icient amount of protein to maintain hair

growth as well. Liver, chicken, f ish, pork, kidney, and

soybeans are good sources of B-6 and are relatively low in

fat when they are not fr ied. Folic acid is found in whole

grains, cereals, nuts, green leafy vegetables, orange juice,

brewer�s yeast, wheat germ, and liver again. Meat, f ish,

poultry, eggs, and other dairy products meanwhile provide

healthy amounts of B-12. Biotin def iciencies are rare unless

there is a severe case of malnutr ition or a ser ious intestinal

disorder, s ince a healthy gut produces biotin through good

bacter ia found there.

Note: if you have a known intestinal disorder and are

plagued by hair loss, ask your doctor about biotin

def iciencies and possible solutions.

Vitamin C is responsible for the development of healthy


collagen, which is necessary to hold body tissues together.

A vitamin C def iciency can cause split ends and hair

breakage, yet this is easily reversible with an increase to

normal vitamin C levels. Vitamin C can be found in foods

such as fresh peppers, citrus fruits, melons berr ies,

potatoes, tomatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin E is necessary to provide good blood circulation to

the scalp by increasing the uptake of oxygen. Vitamin E is

der ived from foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts,

grains, vegetable oils, and most ready-to-eat cereals, which

are fortif ied with vitamin E. Vitamin E def icienc ies are rare

in people in North America and Europe. In the rare cases of

vitamin E def iciency, usua lly caused by the inability to

absorb oils and fats, dietary supplements are available.

Copper is a trace mineral that is a lso necessary in the

production of hemoglobin. Hemoglob in as mentioned earlier

is vita l to the process of carrying oxygen to tissues such as

the hair, and obviously hair is a live cannot grow without

proper oxygen, yet it does not breathe as other components

of our body do, because the oxygen must get to the shaft

of the hair. Good sources of copper are liver again,

seafood, nuts, and seeds.

Another key mineral vita l in the production of hemoglobin is

iron. Iron is found in two forms, heme and non-heme; heme

iron is much easier to absorb into the system. This is where

the problem lies. Of course most people know that red meat

is a good source of iron, however red meat is non-heme

iron and is dif f icult for the body to absorb, as are many

iron supplements. Good heme iron sources are green leafy


vegetables, kidney beans, and bran. Additional ly, one can

increase the absorption of non-heme iron into the body by

consuming non-heme food sources and vitamin C sources in

the same meal.

Zinc is another vita l component to healthy hair, being that

it is responsible for cell production, tissue growth and

repair, and the maintenance of the oil-secreting glands of

the scalp. It also plays a large role in protein synthesis and

collagen formation. For this reason, z inc is important for

both hair maintenance and dandruff prevention. Most

Americans are def icient in z inc. Most foods of animal or igin,

particular ly seafood, contain good amounts of z inc; oysters

are particular ly r ich in z inc. Zinc is a lso found in eggs and

milk, although in much smaller amounts. Zinc from sources

such as nuts, legumes, and natural grains is of a dif ferent

type than those found in animal sources and is not easily

used by the body, although oats are a good source of z inc

that is readily used by the body.

Protein is found in most of the aforementioned animal

source foods, particular ly meats, f ish, milk, cheese, eggs

and yogurt. There is no need for a person eating the

average Western diet to eat additional protein. Too much

protein, even though hair is made of protein, will not

improve hair growth and may cause other health problems.

A challenge for vegans is to maintain healthy levels of

protein, being that complete proteins containing all nine

essentia l amino acids necessary are found mostly in animal

sources. Legumes, seeds, nuts, grains and vegetables do


not contain the same form of protein necessary for a

healthy body. There is only one common non-meat source

for complete protein, and that is the soybean. Fortunately,

soybeans have been made into tofu and textur ized

vegetable protein (TVP) so that they can be made into

var ious dishes. Additionally, one may eat from a wide

variety of vegetable sources in order to obtain all the

essentia l amino acids.

Iodine is vita l to the growth of hair. Sheep farmers long

ago discovered that vegetation void of iodine due to iodine-

depleted soil will adversely affect the growth of wool in

sheep. Likewise, our hair needs iodine to grow. Iodine is

synthetically added to table salt, however in this form it is

not assimilated well into the body and can therefore cause

iodine overload. An excess of iodine in the body can

adversely affect the thyroid. It is best to use non-iodized

salt and retr ieve your iodine from natural food sources.

These include seaweed, salmon, seafood, lima beans,

molasses, eggs, potatoes with the skin on, watercress and

garlic.

One of the most dif f icult nutr ients vita l to hair growth to

get in one�s diet is the trace mineral s ilica. Si licon is a form

of s ilicon and is the second most abundant element in the

earth�s crust, second only to oxygen. The Earth provides

everything we need for health, and with silicon being so

abundant, it would seem that there would never be a

problem with silica def iciency. Unfortunately, trace minerals

are rare in Western diets because our food is processed and


our soil depleted by chemical treatments so often that trace

minerals are lost. Silica is vita l to the strength of hair, and

although it will not necessarily stop hair from falling out

from the follicle, it wil l stop hair breakage. It works by

stimulating the cell metabolism and formation, which slows

the aging process. Foods that are r ich in s ilica are r ice,

oats, lettuce, parsnips, asparagus, onion, strawberry,

cabbage, cucumber, leek, sunf lower seeds, celery, rhubarb,

caulif lower, and swiss chard. Note that many of these

foods, particular ly r ice, are a large part of Asian diets and

Asians tend to have the strongest and healthiest hair. Be

sure to seek out all the above foods from sources that grow

food organically, as this is vita l to obtaining the trace

minerals that are usually not present in North American soil

and therefore not in American foods. Additiona lly these

foods should be eaten uncooked, or in the case of r ice-

unwashed, as trace minerals are easily cooked and washed

away.

Essentia l Fatty Acids (EFA�s) are fatty acids that are needed

by the body yet not produced by the body. EFA�s are a key

component to healthy skin, hair and nails. Common skin

diseases, such as those discussed later in this book like

eczema and seborrhea, are in part caused by def iciencies in

EFA�s. Includ ing deep-water f ish such as salmon, sardines,

mackerel, trout, or herr ing approximately three times a

week will provide suff icient amounts of EFA�s. However, if

for some reason you cannot eat deep-water f ish or have an

extreme dis like for it, it may be necessary to take a

supplement to obtain the required amount of EFA�s.


Last but not least, make sure to include the proper amount

of water in your diet. Water is vita l to proper hydration,

which is necessary in order for all nutr ients to be utilized

properly by the body, not to mention the proper function of

every cell in the body includ ing hair follicles. The suggested

amount of water intake daily is eight 8-ounce glasses of

water a day, or 64 ounces a day.

The effects of high-fat diets and the increase of DHT

(Dihydrotestosterone), a chemical produced by the body

found to cause hair loss, is not conclusive at this time.

However, there does seem to be a connection; as societies

that consumed relatively low-fat diets such as pre-World

War II Japan experienced almost no pattern baldness,

whereas in post-World War II Japan there is an increase in

pattern baldness as their society consumes a higher fat

diet. In fact, Asian and Afr ican men in their native

countr ies traditionally suffer very litt le Male Pattern

Baldness (MPB). Although when the same peoples come to

North America, they begin to develop MPB. Because people

of all races and ethnicities tend to develop MPB or

androgenetic alopecia, yet do not exhibit these tendencies

before moving to America, changes in diet may be a leading

contr ibut ing factor. Diets high in fat do increase

testosterone, which is the main component in DHT. More

research needs to be done on this topic to reach conclusive

evidence, although it certainly could not hurt to lower one�s

fat intake.

F iber is vita l to making sure undigested food moves through


the body and to the bowels properly. Failure of foods to

move through the bowels in a reasonable amount of time

can cause fermentation of undigested food in the bowels

and blocking of nutr ients being absorbed through the body.

Beyond causing degrees of malnutr ition, th is can also cause

a level of toxicity that will overwork systems in the body

such as the adrenal glands and contr ibute to hair loss.

Healthy amounts of fresh vegetables, fruits and legumes

consumed daily wil l ensure a proper amount of dietary

f iber.

Although nutr itional remedies were those that were

discussed here, supplements can be used if one feels they

are s imply unable to eat properly due to work schedule or

dis like of certain foods. Nutr itional supplements containing

these same vitamins and minerals can be taken, with the

exception of water of course. Be sure to a lways take

supplements that are naturally chelated, meaning that the

supplements were developed in a natural base. This will

ensure that the supplements you consume will be more

readily absorbed in the body. There are some cautions to

taking supplements of certain vitamins and minerals,

particular ly those that are fat-soluble because the body

stores them.

Vitamin A can be highly toxic and supplements of vitamin A

should be avoided unless recommended by a doctor. It is

best to achieve one�s vitamin A requirements either by food

or through a naturally chelated multivitamin. A lso

remember that smoking and second hand smoke can cause


blocking of vitamin A assimilation, so it is best to avoid

smoking and remove one�s self from areas and situations

where second hand smoke is present if at all possible.

Vitamin E supplements should always be taken at 400 i.u.

per day to start and work your way up to 800 i.u. Always

take vitamin E in its natural form, which is d�a lpha

tocopherol. Avoid taking vitamin E supplements in the

synthetic form dl�a lpha tocopherol, which is der ived from

petroleum and is less available for assimilation into the

body. If you have high blood pressure or other ser ious

illnesses, consult a physician before taking vitamin E

supplements.

Zinc is one fat-soluble mineral that can cause harm if an

overdose is taken. Zinc can rob the body of copper,

mentioned above as a key nutr ient in hair growth and

health, not to mention in other functions of the body. Zinc

supplements should be taken in low doses, such as 5mg at

a time. These can commonly be found in the form of z inc

lozenges designed for sore throats. There is a �tr ick� to tell

if you are taking too much zinc. When the zinc levels in the

body have surpassed the level that they can be used, a

metallic taste begins to form. If you pay attention to the

metallic taste, you will know when enough zinc has been

consumed, and you can then stop consuming zinc

immediately.

Iron supplements are not recommended unless a doctor has

diagnosed you with a severe iron def iciency. If you do take

an iron supplement, avoid ferrous sulfate, which you will


f ind as the most common over-the-counter iron supplement

in drug stores. Ferrous sulfate is hard for the body to

assimilate, and because iron is not water-soluble it will s it

in the body and can cause severe liver problems over time.

Further, ferrous sulfate causes constipation, which can

tr igger a great deal more problems besides being extremely

unpleasant. One iron supplement that does not contain

ferrous sulfate is called Floradix and is available in both

liquid and pi ll form.

Since there are so few foods to mention that are grown in

North America and contain a good amount of s ilica,

supplements may truly be needed. Horsetail is an herb that

is a r ich source of s ilica. It is highly important to never

take horsetail directly however, or take a supplement made

from unprocessed horsetail, as this herb can be toxic when

ingested whole, ground, in tablets or capsules. Horsetail

must be taken in an aqueous extract of the herb only. Ask

someone at your health food store or someone

knowledgeable about herbs to help you f ind this form. Silica

gel is suspended in water, a lthough it is not an aqueous

solution and should be avoided. Nettle is a lso a good

source of s ilica and Nettle Root Extract is readily available

at health food stores.

Supplements of Essentia l Fatty Acids (EFA�s) are easily

found in most health food stores and even many

supermarkets and pharmacies. These include Evening

Pr imrose Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, F laxseed Oil, Cod Liver Oil,

and other oils from deep-water f ish. It is not recommended


to rely on Cod Liver Oil as a source for EFA�s because it

contains high levels of vitamins A and D, and the amount of

Cod Liver Oil necessary to achieve proper amounts of EFA�s

would cause overdosing on these vitamins. The

recommended supplements are Evening Pr imrose Oil and

Flaxseed Oil. Both these oils are available in oil form or in

capsules. Keep in mind that high amounts of saturated fat

blocks the effectiveness of EFA�s, counteracting their

effectiveness, so there needs to be adjustments to your

diet if there is a high amount of saturated fat in it.

Juicing is a natural way to obtain many of the vitamins,

minerals, and trace minerals mentioned above. When using

organic fruits and vegetables, juicing can provide quite a

boost to the system and encourage the health of hair.

Juices are very readily assimilable by the body and provide

the same content as the whole food. Fresh juices have a

high enzyme content, which is benef icia l because these

enzymes are stored by the body and can be used by the

body when cooked foods that have been robbed of enzymes

are consumed. Stor ing the juice or purchasing pasteurized

juices from the store diminishes this benef it, a lthough the

benef its of the minerals and vitamins are usually still

available. All the above-mentioned fruits and vegetables

can be juiced to obtain the maximum benefit from them. A

great deal of s ilica, sulfur, iron, and potassium for example

is extracted from organic carrot juice. In fact, carrots being

roots contain most trace minerals the body needs. The

effects of carrot juice are enhanced when adding cucumber

juice to it, because of its high sil ica and sulfur content.

Organic spinach juice is highly recommended, as it is high


in iron, vitamin A, and other vita l vitamins and minerals; it

is often combined with lettuce and carrot juice, two very

good sources of s ilica and vitamin A. Non-organic spinach

juice can be extremely high in pesticides and should

therefore be avoided. Spinach juice should also be avoided

if one suffers from kidney stones, as it contains a large

amount of oxalic acid, which exacerbates kidney stone

growth.

There are a number of foods and substances to avoid and

lim it the intake of. Substances such as alcohol, caffeine,

sugar and nicotine can deplete the body of nutr ients and

raise adrenal levels, which will cause a chain reaction of

producing more androgen and causing hair loss. High levels

of saturated fat and cholesterol r ich foods are also linked

to increased DHT levels and their consumption should be

lim ited. Additionally, common table salt has been linked to

hair loss. And the average diet provides the recommended

amount of sodium intake; therefore, salt should never be

added to food. However, when using salt for seasoning

during cook ing, be sure to use salt with Iodine being that it

is a nutr ient that is vita l to hair growth as well, unless you

are a regular consumer of seafood, which contains high

levels of Iodine.

Toxemia can cause a great deal of dysfunction in the body�s

systems, including hair- loss related illnesses such as

eczema, psoriasis, seborrhea and possibly several others. It

is vita l for one to cleanse the body of impurities in order to

maintain a healthy system and avoid such illnesses, as


there are no cure for these illnesses beyond cleansing and

the maintenance of a healthy diet to allow the body to heal

itself . Regular cleansing should inc lude a diet r ich in f iber

as mentioned earlier, and the use of added f iber such as

provided by consuming psyll ium husk as a bulking agent

along with laxative agents. More is discussed under the

section Natural Hair Loss Remedies.

Although hair loss can be caused by many other var iables,

lack of proper nutr ition will assuredly cause hair loss in

many people. Fortunately, adopting a proper diet that

includes the above nutr ients can reverse hair loss caused

by malnutr ition. One thing for certain, regardless of

whether your hair loss was caused by malnutr ition or not,

adopting a healthier diet will help the function of other

areas of the body.


Natural Hair Loss Remedies

There is again no sure-f ire way to prevent all hair loss;

however, there are some methods that have been used that

work on some people. In addition to the dietary

improvements and suggestions already offered, there are

some naturopathic remedy suggestions. Massage and

aromatherapy have been used with some success. In minor

cases of temporary hair loss, hair growth can be stimulated

by massage, s ince blood and oxygen f low to the scalp must

be healthy in order for hair to grow. A blend of s ix drops

each of lavender and bay essentia l oils in a base of four

ounces of either almond, soybean or sesame oil massaged

into the scalp and allowed to sit for 20 minutes has been

used by aroma therapists to stimulate the scalp. Once the

mixture is in the scalp for 20 minutes, wash your hair and

scalp with your normal shampoo mixed with three drops of

bay essentia l oil. Massaging the scalp in general for a

couple of minutes a day can stimulate blood f low to the

hair follicles and in mild cases stimulate some hair growth.

Of course, one must be careful to be gentle when

massaging and not tug at the hair or use the f ingernails

when massaging the scalp. If one is concerned about

f ingernails getting in the way due to extra long f ingernails,

there are several options. One is a f lat-handed massage,

which whi le not as effective as the f inger massage can

provide some circulatory benef its and results. There are

several electr ic massagers on the market that have an


attachment for scalp massaging as well. An or iental method

called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Kung) has been used to

increase circulation to the scalp and face also. The f ingers

should be placed at the center of the skull base and then

begin to tap approximately 30 times. Work your way

outward toward the ears continuing to tap gently. After

reaching the ears go back to the center of the skull a litt le

higher up and work your way around to the ear region.

Keep going up about eight levels, each time repeating the

process.

As mentioned earlier, there is a def inite connection

between the prostate and hair loss for men, and therefore a

connection between breakthroughs in BPH treatments

developed and their effectiveness in restor ing hair growth.

There have been some herbalists that have experimented

with the herb Saw Palmetto in order to block the production

of DHT in treating BPH. Although most studies of Saw

Palmetto have been for the treatment of prostatic disease,

more recent studies have been conducted on its

effectiveness in treating loss. The herb has been found to

work in f ighting benign prostatic disease by lowering levels

of DHT, which is a known cause of androgenetic alopecia.

Stud ies have shown Saw Palmetto extract is an effective

anti-androgen and therefore there is promise for its

effectiveness as an effective treatment for hair loss

prevention. Women who take Saw Palmetto should cease

doing so when taking oral contraceptives or hormone

therapy.


Nettles are r ich in vitamins A and C, several key minerals

and lipids that can be benef icia l to the hair. Nettle Root

Extract has been used successfully in Europe as an inhibitor

of 5-alpha reductase in treating BPH. As mentioned ear lier,

5-alpha reductase is a key component in turning

testosterone into DHT, the substance that causes the

atrophy of hair follicles. Therefore there is great promise in

its use as a component in natural hair loss treatments.

Nettle Root Extract is available at health food stores over

the counter, and has few side effects.

Rosemary and sage are two herbs that have shown benef it

traditional ly when used externally. It is suggested that to

promote a clean scalp, stimulation of the hair root, and

thickening hair one should boi l together in water rosemary,

sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock. Then strain the loose

herbs from the liquid and use the liquid to wash the hair

daily. Also recommended is steeping one ounce of ground

rosemary, two ounces of ground sage, and a half ounce of

ground nettles in one pint of ethyl a lcohol for a week,

straining the solution and adding one ounce of castor oil

and one ounce of water to the liquid. This is said to make a

great hair lotion to apply at night before bed or just before

shampooing.

If one is predisposed to seborrhea, eczema, psoriasis, or

dandruff, one might consider the use of jojoba (pronounced

ho-ho-ba) oil. Mexicans and southwestern Native American

nations have used jojoba oil traditional ly for centuries to

promote hair growth and the control of dandruff. Jojoba oil


is great for hypoallergenic skin by being a great moistur izer

and mimick ing the scalp�s own sebum. It absorbs readily

into the scalp and helps remove deposits of sebum from the

hair follicles, neutralizes acidity, and nourishes the scalp

with all the B vitamins, vitamin E, s i licon, copper, z inc,

chromium, and iodine.

Aloe Vera has been used by Native Americans, Indians and

many in the Caribbean to promote healthy hair and prevent

hair loss. Aloe�s positive effects on the skin are well known,

and likewise it can help the scalp by healing it and

balancing the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the

pores. A common preparation of Aloe Vera gel with a small

amount of wheat germ oil and coconut milk is used as a

shampoo and has traditionally shown great benef it. Of

course, if you do not want to go through the trouble of

concocting your own formulas, s imilar products or products

containing these ingredients may be found in the health

food store if one does some searching.

While Henna will not promote hair growth, henna is

excellent for the maintenance of healthy hair. Henna is a

natural clay conditioner that can help heal the hair shaft by

repair ing and sealing the cuticle, protecting hair against

breakage and loss of shine. Henna comes in a var iety of

colors to safely color or highlight the hair temporarily, or

one can obtain neutral henna if one does not desire color

changes to the hair.

Cleansing should be a major part of your regimen to


maintain and grow hair. Many scalp related diseases are

directly the result of toxemia, while toxins in the body

adversely affecting the body�s systems indirectly affect

other conditions. C leansing should be performed through

oral means regular ly and occasionally by enema or colonic

irr igation; and the colon is the key to health and the root of

nearly all of the body�s illnesses. A clogged colon blocks the

ability of the body to absorb nutr ients from foods you

consume, therefore causing possible malnutr ition of the

hair. When the colon is clogged, toxins are harbored that

harm the body. Excess toxins send the body into a panic

and overwork other organs of the body when the colon

cannot eliminate them. Commonly overworked organs are

the liver and the kidneys, however the tr ickle-down effect

actually causes the adrenal glands to overproduce

testosterone, leading to increased levels of DHT.

Polysorbate-80 is an FDA approved surfactant that is a lso

approved as a food additive. It causes water and oils or

fats to mix, and according to research, is of very little

toxicity. A lthough it is not proven, Polysorbate-80 is said to

remove deposits of DHT and cholesterol from the scalp.

Polysorbate-80 is a common additive in shampoo and is also

available in its stand-alone form inn health food stores. It

is being recommended by some naturopathic practitioners

as an application for the scalp approximately 15 minutes

pr ior to shampooing.

F iber is vita l to cleansing, and most North American diets

are def icient in natural f iber. Psyllium husk is a bulking

laxative agent that can be used to safely move waste


through the colon. Psyl lium is a very good substance as it

gently scrubs the walls of the colon to remove waste that is

stuck to the walls. Activating agents such as the herbs

cascara sagrada, senna and cayenne help activate the

peristaltic waves of the intestines to push clogged waste

through the colon and out. It would be best to consult an

herbalist, naturopath or purchase a prepared herbal tea

containing the aforementioned herbs. However, the

psyllium can be obtained from any health food store and

mixed with water. Be sure to dr ink the psyllium as soon as

you mix it as it will begin to turn into a gel- like substance

that will be harder to swallow. Psyllium has no taste, and

although many do not like its gr itty feeling, the benef its far

outweigh the unpleasantness.

Occasionally, a full colonic irr igation should be sought from

a licensed professional. Colonic irr igations clean the colon

through the gentle application of water into the colon by a

colonic irr igation machine. Licensed practitioners who

perform this function are available in most states and the

benef its are unequalled. Commonly called a colonic for

short, this process can remove far more waste than

cleansing by taking herbs orally. With a proper diet, one

should only need to have a colonic seasonally or even as

litt le as bi-annually, for those who are maintaining a high-

f iber diet. For the f irst treatment however, one should go

through a ser ies of colonic irr igation cleansings, s ince

waste is impacted in the colon and must be gradually

loosened.


Once one has cleansed internally, cleanliness must be

maintained to avoid the buildup of toxins reoccurr ing.

Detoxifying herbal teas such as saffron are gentle and can

be drunk to remove toxins from the body. Saffron has the

effect of carrying toxins from inside the body out through

the pores of the skin. Chamomile, mul le in or watermelon

seed tea can be substituted for saffron tea for this purpose.

This process is assisted by utiliz ing a steam bath to open

the pores to allow toxins to come out easier. Be sure to

consume plenty of f luids such as water and sports dr inks

that contain salts your body may lose before enter ing a

steam bath. Steam baths are extremely benef icia l, yet your

body will lose a large amount of water and salt, so you

want to be sure to consume extra amounts of water and

salt before going into the steam bath, and keep some

sports dr inks on hand in case you feel depleted. Of course

if you have any medical conditions that affect your stamina,

endurance, blood pressure, or breathing, consult your

physician before engaging in steam baths.

F inally, a lthough exercise does absolutely nothing directly

to grow hair, most holistic practitioners when questioned

about hair loss recommend it. The reason was stated

earlier, that being the fact that the body is a complete

system, and neglect of the system can cause chain

reactions of which one result may be hair loss. Take some

time to exercise daily if only for a few minutes. This will

improve blood f low, the delivery of oxygen to the cells of

the body, and help the digestion of foods, all things that

aid the health of hair follicles. If you have access to


seawater, swimming is one of the most complete exercises

available. It exercises the entire body with litt le stress on

the joints, and the seawater helps wash away toxins.

However, beware of swimming in chlor inated water such as

found in most pools, as chlor ine can have negative effects

on the hair. Bicycling is a lso another low-impact benef icia l

exercise that can be done in one�s neighborhood or on a

stationary bicycle, as is walking. Whatever method of

exercis ing you choose, s imply exercise to improve overall

health. In combination with the other methods presented

here, exercise will only help your condit ion.


Good Grooming and Care

Hair is fa ir ly strong and can generally withstand normal

grooming techniques. However, there can be thinning or

breakage of hair due to poor grooming habits, and

following several tips can prevent these bouts of thinning

and breakage. Avoid combing hair with f ine-toothed combs

when wet, as this is a common cause of breakage. Although

this is a tempting practice because hair straightens and

detangles much better if combed when wet, the stress on

the hair shaft is immense when the hair is wet because it is

weakened.

This goes for brushing the hair when wet also. Brushing the

hair in general can be stimulating to the scalp, encouraging

blood f low to the hair follicles and maintain ing their health.

Brushing the hair before washing it can loosen up f lakes of

sebum and dead skin buildup and make it easier to

thoroughly clean the scalp during shampooing. Remember,

over combing or over brushing generally will cause damage

to the hair, which is quite contrary to the old 100-stroke

brushing rule.

Although clean hair is desirable and even necessary for the

maintenance of healthy hair, excessive shampooing can

str ip vita l minerals like calcium, phosphorus, n itrogen and

iron from the hair. This is particular ly true when using

commercial shampoos. Most commercial shampoos contain


formaldehyde as a preservative. To disguise the presence

of formaldehyde it is listed in the ingredients as

Quanternium-15. This substance can be carcinogenic

(cancer-causing) and poisonous to the entire system.

Unfortunately for those who suffer with dandruff, anti-

dandruff shampoos are some of the most dangerous

shampoos on the market. Selenium sulf ide is the main

ingredient in most dandruff shampoos, a substance that has

shown to cause degeneration of the liver. Other toxic

chemicals such as polyvinyl pyrr lidone plastic (PVP), which

is a proven carcinogenic, and creosol which has been

proven to be highly toxic are commonly found in dandruff

shampoos. This is why it is very important to correct this

condit ion as quickly as possible through natural means.

Natural shampoos normally found in health food stores are

a much better choice. Even with natural shampoos, be

careful of the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can str ip

away too much oil from the hair, causing shampoo residue

to be left behind. Ingredients that have proven useful in

shampoos are cocamides, Panthenol Pro-B, of course the

previously discussed vitamins, a loe vera, sage, nettle,

burdock, chamomile, chaparral, horsetail and rosemary.

Also look for shampoos that contain keratin, the protein

substance that hair is made of, or amino acids. This will

help seal breakages in the cuticle.

Choose a shampoo with a proper pH balance; a level of 5.5

is ideal. The pH scale runs from 0 to 6.9 for acids and 7.1

to 14 for alkaline, with 7 being neutral. Although generally

condit ioners are good for hair provided that they do not


contain the previously mentioned harmful chemicals,

shampoos with conditioners included should be avoided.

Shampooing and condit ion ing serve two different functions

and the effectiveness of both are diminished by combining

the process.

When shampooing, pour the shampoo into the hands and

rub the shampoo in with your hands rather than pouring it

on your head. By pouring shampoo directly into the hair

you may promote buildup in one particular spot. Massage

gently with your f ingertips to loosen f lakes and buildup and

to stimulate circulation, but avoid using the f ingernails as

this may scratch the scalp and cause scarr ing over time.

Shampoo with warm water to open the pores and r inse with

cool water to promote shrinking the pores back to their

normal s ize. After washing hair, dry it by blotting the hair

with a towel. Avoid rubbing, especially with terrycloth

towels, as this will pul l hair when it is in a weakened state

due to the wetness.

Be sure to follow directions on all perms and relaxers, as

misuse can cause serious damage to the hair shaft.

Excessive color ing, styling or heat treatments, and chemical

treatments can damage hair and cause breakage even when

directions are followed. Always keep in mind that these

perms and relaxers have harsh chemicals in them that

chemically alter hair, and long-term use of these chemicals

can cause harm to hair shafts and follicles causing some

hair loss. If you can avoid the use of these chemicals, by

all means do. The result could be the increased life of your


hair.

If you decide to use perms or relaxers to process hair, be

sure to use semi-permanent hair color or henna. This will

avoid harsh reactions between the relaxer or perm and the

ammonia and peroxide amounts in permanent dyes. It is

a lways best to allow the hair to rest untreated as much as

possible, and avoid mixing chemical processes.

Another styling caution is against the overuse of hairstyles

that pull the hair too tight, such as ponytails and braids,

which wil l cause hair loss especially a long the sides of the

scalp. This syndrome is called traction alopecia. Keep in

mind when styling hair that hair is living and growing, and

is susceptible to the stress of constant pulling continuous

abuse causes scarr ing, which wi ll lead to permanent hair

loss in the areas affected. Along with leaving the hair

chemically untreated for a time, leaving it in a loose style

without over-manipulation for as long as possible will

ensure optimum results.


Black Hair Basics

The typical hair and hair follicles of those of Afr ican

descent are tightly cur led, thus producing hair that spirals.

Black hair a lso typically has a larger diameter than

Caucasian hair and retains less water, thus its relative

�kinkiness.� The many styling methods utilized on Black

hair cause concern with hair loss. Black hair is very strong,

fortunately so because Black hair styles cause a great deal

of stress on the hair and scalp.

For example, using a hair pick to pick the hair up to a

bushy style is a very damaging process due to the constant

pul ling causing stress on the hair shaft as well as the

follic le. In fact, combing Black hair in general can create

high stress on Black hair and cause breakage, which

perpetuates dryness. Cornrowing and braiding are methods

of hairstyling that pull the hair tight, and this can cause a

great deal of stress on the hair and scalp resulting in hair

loss. Braiding that results in the hair being pulled very tight

can cause traumatic alopecia, a hair loss that is caused by

trauma to the hair and scalp. Traumatic alopecia is usually

reversible with proper hair care.

Hot combs and relaxers used to straighten hair can cause a

great deal of heat and chemical damage to hair and scalp,

which can also cause traumatic alopecia, and over time can

cause permanent hair loss. This becomes especially true


when the heat or chemically processed hair is pulled tight

by rollers or a hot cur ling iron.

Hot oil conditioners are excellent for Black hair, as hot oil

treatments contain proteins and polymers vita l to repair ing

the hair cuticles. Hot oil treatments involve heating the oil

and putting it into the hair and scalp, then covering the

hair with a plastic cap to allow the oil to soak in. Follow the

recommendations on the treatment you are using for the

amount of time you should leave the treatment on the hair.

This process can heal breakages and shinier stronger hair

will be the result.

Consider that hair relaxers commonly used on Black hair

contain lye or s imilar chemicals that break down the hair

shaft. Left on beyond the recommended time, these

chemicals would eat r ight through the hair and cause it to

fa ll out in clumps. This is why these same products are

used in products like Drano® to clean clogged drains which

often are clogged by hair. No-lye relaxers are very popular

today, mainly because it leads people to believe that the

product is not caustic. This is far from the truth. The

combinat ion of calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate

are combined to form guanidine hydroxide, which could just

as easily clean a sink. Repeated use of such products can

cause some degree of hair loss, and if scarr ing occurs while

using these chemicals, the hair loss can be permanent in

that area of the scalp. One must ask themselves is it wise

to place such caustic chemicals in the hair on a regular

basis for the sake of desired appearance? The question


must be answered by each individual, however the facts

should be known.

There is litt le that can be done to alleviate this syndrome

without changing the typical hairstyles of Afr ican

Americans. There is a catch-22 concerning relaxing Black

hair, s ince combing natural Black hair causes so much

stress and breakage of hair, while chemicals cause so much

harm to the hair and scalp as well. There are a few hair-

relaxing products on the market that use chemicals and are

somewhat less harsh than sodium hydroxide (lye) or its

popular equivalent in �no-lye� relaxers: calcium hydroxide

(quick lime) mixed with guanid ine carbonate. One such

product is called Natural-Laxer® and Sahara Clay® by Baka

ProductsT M that has been on the market s ince 1990. This

product is a ll natural and because it does not contain many

of the harsh chemicals of commercial relaxers and actually

contains only a f inely ground plant called Daphne Gnidium

and clay from Afr ica it is f igured to be relatively safe. Of

course this product does not straighten hair in most

instances the same way as commercial relaxers, however it

does tend to make Black hair more manageable. There is

yet another product on the market that is reported to be

92-96% natural which is called Naturalaxer Kit In A Jar�

that does not require the applicant to comb through the

hair during the application, which results in a lot less

damage.

Of course the bottom line is once again, if you can leave

your hair in its natural state then you will experience less


stress and damage to the hair and thus prevent at least one

cause of hair loss. There is a growing segment of the Black

populat ion that is becoming comfortable with wearing their

hair in natural styles. One such style is dreadlocks. There

are many rumors and myths concerning dreadlocks, as

there is litt le proper information available concerning this

style, and as with anything that is misunderstood many

myths ar ise around it. Dreadlocks can and must be washed;

otherwise they will smell badly like any other dirty hair.

The best process to use to wash dreadlocks is to use a

residue-free shampoo. Most commercially made shampoos

leave residue and can cause hair not to lock, lending fuel to

the rumor that hair had to be dirty to form dreadlocks.

Clean hair actually locks much better than dirty hair, as dirt

is a residue in itself that will inh ib it hair from locking. For

best results one should use a fragrance free, conditioner

free shampoo. Dreadlocks do not react well to oily and

greasy substances, yet there are many good substances

that are on the market today that will assist you in forming

dreadlocks.

Dreadlocks are formed through a process, not s imply by not

combing or brushing the hair. Generally, one should start

with hair about two inches in length, and the hair should be

separated into even squares of hair and twisted gently

together using a bonding or gel substance. Many use

natural beeswax containing no petroleum, while others use

loc and twist gels specif ically formulated for locks. Once

the hair is separated and twisted into small locks, it is


important that they are left a lone and allowed to bond

naturally. The length of time it will take to lock will depend

on the coarseness of your hair, but one can normally expect

to wait several months before locks begin to form. While

the hair is locking, it wil l need to be washed. Here is where

washing should be extended for a while if possible, so that

the hair can be allowed to lock for two weeks to about a

month without manipulation. When you do wash your hair,

use a stocking cap or �do-rag�, and low-pressure water to

make sure that the newly forming locks do not come loose.

It will be necessary to r inse for a much longer time than

you normally do, because of the lower pressure of the

water and the lack of direct manipulation of your hair with

your hands. The water is good for your hair and locking

process, so this is not a problem. It is a lso imperative as

ind icated before that you use a shampoo that does not

contain a conditioner and leaves as litt le residue as

possible. A litt le research on your part will be necessary

here; your health food store should contain a var iety of

natural shampoos. Have a skilled professional or a fr iend

re-twist the hair gently, reapplying the twist gel or beeswax

that you used previously. Repeat this process every two

weeks to a month, the longer you are able to wait the

better, and within a few months your hair will begin to

lock. Again, if you have a f ine grade of hair rather than a

kinky grade of hair, a beautician skilled at forming locks

(� locktitian�) or a fr iend who is very familiar with the

hairstyle should be consulted. Even though dreadlocks are

mainly a hairstyle for Blacks, there are other races that

have people that enjoy the hairstyle. In general, it tends to


be a style of hair that in the long run will give the hair and

scalp needed rest from the r igors of chemical and heat

treatments and r igorous combing and brushing, and

therefore can contr ibute to longer life for your hair.


Hair and Scalp Diseases

There are a var iety of hair and scalp diseases; some are

very common, while other more severe hair and scalp

diseases are fortunately rare. Alopecia Areata is an

autoimmune skin disease that causes the body�s immune

system to attack the hair follicles, causing baldness in

patches. It affects 1.7 percent of the population, inc lud ing

4.7 mil lion people in the United States. In cases where the

disease progresses to the point where all scalp hair is lost,

it is called Alopecia Totalis, and where hair loss advances

to the entire body it is called Alopecia Universia lis. There is

no known cause for alopecia areata and therefore no known

cure. The disease usually hits before age 20, and does not

seem to favor one particular gender or culture. Hair loss

with alopecia areata comes in stages, with hair returning

and falling out in phases. For information on this disease,

contact the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) at

PO Box 150760, San Rafael, CA 94915-0760, (415) 472-

3780.

Seborrheic Dermatitis, an advanced form of seborrhea, is a

non-contagious skin disease that causes excessive oiliness

of the skin, most commonly in the scalp, caused by

overproduction of sebum, the substance produced by the

body to lubricate the skin where hair follicles are present.

Seborrhea is the form of the disease where oiliness only

occurs without redness and scaling. The disease commonly


occurs in infants, middle-aged people, and the elder ly, and

is commonly known in infants as cradle cap. The disease

has no cure, yet in infants it usually disappears in time.

With adults the condition may persist with varying degrees

of severity. F laking, scaling and redness often are

symptoms of this disease. It is easily treated with topical

solutions found in creams containing corticosteroids and

shampoos containing pine tar, selenium sulf ide or salicylic

acid. Seborrhea and seborrheic dermatitis are both easily

treated and controlled, and should be because left

untreated they can contr ibute to hair loss. In fact, a group

of Japanese scientists have linked the overproduction of

sebum to hair loss. This is because the sebaceous glands in

areas of the scalp where hair is thinning or bald are

enlarged, and are thought to cause the clogging of pores

and several other problems that promote hair loss.

Psoriasis is termed an immune-mediated disorder that

affects dif ferent areas and functions of the body. It is non-

contagious, and one of the areas of the body it can affect

is the scalp. It usually appears as patches of raised red skin

accompanied by burning and itching. Several contr ibuting

factors are thought to contr ibute to the outbreak of

psoriasis, includ ing emotional stress, certain infections,

toxemia, the thinning of the intestinal walls and adverse

reactions to certain drugs. At least half of people who have

psoriasis have scalp psoriasis. Like seborrhea, scalp

psoriasis left untreated can cause hair loss. Fortunately, it

can also be treated with a var iety of topical creams and

shampoos containing tar and salicylic acid. For more


information on psoriasis, contact the National Psoriasis

Foundation at 6600 SW 92nd Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR

97223-7195, (503) 244-7404 or (800) 723-9166.

It is vita l not to scratch the scalp and pick at the scabs that

psoriasis causes, as this could damage the hair follic les in

the dermis and cause permanent hair loss. As long as the

follic les are not damaged, hair loss caused by this malady

is usually temporary and hair will grow back once the

condit ion clears. Some of the best ways to stop the itching

are using very common household substances such as

mouthwashes like Lavoris® and Lister ine®. Carbolated

Vaseline® works well a long the hair line to relieve

symptoms. Hair dyes of all kinds and chemical treatments

such as permanents and relaxers should be avoided at all

costs with psoriasis. These chemicals are extremely harmful

in general, but with psoriasis can lead to irreversible

damage to the hair follicle over a relatively short per iod of

time.

Like any of these other maladies, one must keep in mind

that psoriasis cannot be cured through drugs, and if any

cure exists it is in the form of the body healing itself by the

correction of malfunctions in the body. One condition

present with everyone suffer ing with psoriasis is toxemia.

When the body becomes toxic, var ious genetic dispositions

mature and psoriasis is but one illness that ar ises due to

toxemia. Toxemia is caused by poor circulation and the

thinning of the intestinal walls. The patient�s blood

becomes acidic, and thus this acidity comes through the


largest organ in the body: the skin. Several cases of

psoriasis have been healed through natural processes such

as internal cleansing, giving up alcohol , increasing the

intake of water-especially distil led water, an increase in

exposure to the sun in certain cases, an active reduction in

stress by removing stressful conditions and practicing

meditation, and the elimination of nightshades such as

tomatoes, tobacco, eggplant, white potatoes, peppers (not

black pepper) and paprika. One food that is a common

plague to those suffer ing with psoriasis is pizza. Obviously

containing tomatoes, pizza also contains every ingredient a

psoriasis sufferer should avoid, such as white f lour,

peppers and hot spices. Additionally, p izza is highly acidic

and should be avoided by all means.

In addition to the dietary suggestions given earlier, it is

suggested that those suffer ing with psoriasis should eat

f ish, poultry and lamb regular ly, maintain a high alkaline

diet and consume low fat milk or buttermilk. F ish,

especially fresh or canned salmon, sardines and solid white

albacore tuna contains Omega-3 fatty acids that are vita l

for skin and scalp health. Although most f ish are

recommended, avoid dark-f leshed f ishes such as mackerel

or bluef ish, sushi or shellf ish. Poultry such as chicken,

turkey, Cornish Hens and other non-fatty fowl are excellent

foods for those with psoriasis when not fr ied. To avoid

excess fat, remove the skin before eating and avoid fowl

that has high fat content like goose and duck. Lamb is the

only recommended red meat for those suffer ing with

psoriasis, being that it is easy to digest and still a great


source of protein. Of course it should be prepared any way

except by frying. Dairy products should be consumed

sparingly, and only low-fat or non-fat dairy products Those

suffer ing with psoriasis can obtain their calcium from

sources mentioned earlier in the section on Diet, Nutr ition

and Hair Loss, such as soybean products, celery, lettuce

and greens. White bread should be avoided. And a limited

amount of whole grain bread and whole grain products can

be substituted, but should be consumed with caution

because all grains except millet are acid forming.

Addit ional ly, one should el iminate alcohol consumption

entirely, except for perhaps a small glass of red wine with

dinner to promote r ich blood and digestion. For cleansing

suggestions, see the earlier section on Natural Hair Loss

Remedies.

Lecithin is benef icia l for psoriasis, and can be taken in its

granular form in the dosage of one tablespoon three times

a day, f ive days a week, either pla in or added to water,

juice, spr inkled on salad or cereal. After the condition

clears, reduce the dosage to one tablespoon taken once per

day, f ive days a week. Lecithin can be obtained at any

health food store, and although it can be obtained in liqu id

or tablet form in addition to granular form, it is best used

in granular form due to the high phosphatide content when

consumed as such. These doses should not be exceeded, as

the over consumption of lecithin can cause a blockage in

the absorption of calcium

Eczema is another non-contagious skin disease that mimics


psoriasis very closely. Eczema produces scales, reddened

inf lamed skin that periodically ooze, and the familiar itch

that is of supreme annoyance to those that suffer with it.

These are however two different diseases that usually

require dif ferent treatments. However, there are certain

treatments that work for psoriasis that work for eczema

also. Eczema causes extreme buildup and sores on the

scalp, and can cause severe scarr ing. The bui ldup caused

by eczema can cause temporary hair loss, however the

scarr ing that can occur especially if one scratches the

painful ly itchy lesions can cause permanent damage to the

hair follicles.

Eczema is an illness caused by toxemia as well. And

although one can use the var ious medicated shampoos and

creams on the market to control its symptoms, permanent

relief is only going to come from removing the cause of the

toxemia. Therefore once again cleansing and dr inking

plenty of purif ied water are keys to f ighting eczema. Many

of the dietary recommendations are the same for one who

suffers from eczema, except there is usually an increased

sensitivity to f ish-therefore it should be eaten in a limited

amount. Also, there is usually a high intolerance of cow�s

milk, s ince eczema is highly associated with allergies.

Therefore, one should use soymilk or goat�s milk instead.

Hair loss due to chemotherapy treatments is a common side

effect of the treatment. Chemotherapy kills rapidly

reproducing cancer cells, however the side effect of this

treatment is that chemotherapy also destroys the rapidly


reproducing cells that promote the growth of hair and nails.

Hair is lost rapidly and in large quantities in most

instances. During th is process, no prescr iption, herbal or

over the counter treatments of any kind have been found to

assist in maintaining the hair. Fortunately, hair normally

returns within six months to a year after treatments cease.

Patients have found that hair re-grown after chemotherapy

is f iner in texture and lighter in color at f irst. These are

usually temporary conditions that improve with time. Those

recovering from chemotherapy should avoid chemical

processes such as perms, relaxers, bleaching and color ing

in the hair until it grows at least three inches and not until

at least one year after the last treatment. Chemotherapy

can cause skin sensitivity and these chemicals can be

extremely irr itating to the scalp.


Women�s Issues

The term Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) tends to lay

credence to the thought that hair loss is pr imarily a male

problem. While males do lose hair more readily and tend to

lose hair in sections, women suffer baldness and hair

thinning also, except the thinning is more uniform

throughout the head. With this is mind, women are better

candidates for surgical hair replacement and weaving

treatments, because large portions of the scalp are highly

unl ikely to be bald on a woman suffer ing with androgenetic

alopecia.

Because a great deal more emphasis is put on the beauty of

a woman�s hair, this is becoming a great concern for

today�s woman. While the general information covered thus

far is good for all persons in general, there are a few things

specif ic to women concerning hair loss.

Many women suffer hair loss and an increase of facial hair

after the onset of menopause. This is because of the drop

in estrogen production, changing the ratio of estrogen to

testosterone in a woman�s body. Pr ior to menopause, a

woman�s body is constantly producing estrogen, which

binds excess testosterone to proteins called globulins.

Therefore, there is litt le excess testosterone in a woman�s

body. After the onset of menopause this estrogen is no

longer present, thereby exposing it to a s imilar although


milder type of syndrome that males go through concerning

the overproduction of DHT. An interesting note is that once

again, the syndrome of menopause and its unique effects

are not as common in the Eastern world, but are specif ic to

Western civilization. The key dif ferences are the

consumpt ion of less red meat and fatty foods in Eastern

lands than in the West and less daily stressors in most

Eastern lands as compared to Western civilization.

Anorexia is an eating disorder that is becoming more

prevalent among women in the past few decades and is

psycholog ically dr iven in Western society due to the

emphasis put on slender women being the ideal in Western

civil ization. Needless to say, if you or a loved one is

suffer ing with this disorder, a qualif ied physician should

treat any cases of anorexia. However, some of the side

effects of anorexia can be hair loss due to the malnutr ition

the syndrome caused. In this case, it is vita l to carefully

follow the advice given in the sections Nutr ition, Diet, and

Hair Loss, and Natural Hair Remedies.

It is of course recommended in all cases that you reduce

your intake of red meats, fatty foods, and reduce stress,

however due to your profession and engrained habits there

may be a limit to how much you can change this part of

your lifestyle. There is another factor in Eastern

civil izations that may cause a stark dif ference in their

women not suffer ing through typical menopausal symptoms

here in the West. The consumption of soybeans and

soybean products is much higher in the East. This is


signif icant because soy contains estrogen-like substances

and work in the body similar ly to estrogen. Therefore there

is not an extreme drop in estrogen levels in women who

consume soybean products, thus reducing the symptoms of

menopause typically suffered in the West.

Some women who suffer hair loss tend to have

gastrointestinal problems that do not allow them to absorb

proteins and z inc that are necessary to maintain a healthy

head of hair. If you think that you have problems with your

gastrointestinal system and are experiencing unusual hair

loss, of course see your doctor. You may be able to take

some natural non-dairy acidophi lus after meals for a couple

of months in order to increase your digestion of these

nutr ients.

There are a number of myths associated with hair loss in

women particular ly. Many were told that brushing the hair

100 strokes each night wil l promote healthy hair growth. As

mentioned earlier, extreme brushing of the hair can cause

stress on the hair which can cause breakage and hair loss.

Also, just as hats have been rumored to cause hair loss,

wearing wigs has also been rumored to cause hair loss.

This is very untrue, especially if the scalp is given suff icient

time to breathe at night and hair is washed regular ly to

avoid buildup. Although stress can cause temporary hair

loss, permanent hair loss is usually unconnected to stress.

Last but not least, the belief that there are cosmetic

products that are out on the market that grow hair is

s imply unfounded. There is only one product on the market


that has been proven to grow hair on women safely, and

that is women�s Rogaine® discussed later in the section

Over The Counter Treatments.

During pregnancy hair growth increases dramatically in

most women. This increases the usual percentage of hair

normally growing on the head. Therefore, after childbirth

there may be an increase in hair loss due to more hair

follic les than usual enter ing the rest phase. The temporary

excessive loss of hair usually occurs between one and three

months after childb irth and is quite normal; it should

balance out a few months after childb irth at most. Similar

syndromes occur after ceasing birth control pil ls or

switching types of birth control pil ls.


Hair Replacement and Restoration Techniques

There has been a great deal of progress in the f ie ld of hair

replacement and restoration in the past few years. Surgical

techniques have improved greatly from the days when hair

replacement f irst began. All hair replacement techniques

involve the use of your own hair; therefore, hair

replacement candidates must have some healthy hair,

usually at the back and sides of the head. The process is a

relatively safe procedure when performed by a qualif ied

surgeon, however as with any surgery there are r isks.

Candidates must be checked for uncontrolled h igh blood

pressure, blood-clotting problems, or skin that scars

excessively, as these conditions may make healing dif f icult .

Small pieces of hair growing scalp grafts are removed from

areas of the scalp with healthy hair and are placed where

hair is thinning. There are three major types of grafts:

punch grafts, mini-grafts, and micro-grafts. Punch grafting

takes about 10-15 hairs and places them in the scalp. This

was the f irst type of technique to be developed, and when

f irst developed caused a patchy look in many candidates.

The technique has been improved since the f irst days of

being developed, and the new mini-graft technique has also

been added as an option. Mini-grafts contain only 2-4 hairs

per graft, and therefore look much more natural. Micro-

grafts are still smaller grafts that contain one to two hairs

each. To maintain healthy circulation of the scalp, grafts

are placed 1/8th of an inch apart. Local anesthesia is

usually suff icient for these procedures, and several


procedures are usually required to achieve the desired

result. Post-surgery, a period of approximately 10 days of

no sexual or strenuous activity is recommended, as

strenuous activity may cause bleeding from the graft areas.

Of course surgery is a ser ious option, and often an

expensive one as well. For those not wishing to undergo

surgery for either reason, the option of non-surgical hair

additions is often explored. Many professionals have

developed techniques to add hair to existing hair on your

scalp that look very natural. Weaves, fusions, bonding,

cabling and micro linking are some of the techniques used

to bond hair to the existing hair or scalp non-surgically.

Many jokes were made in the past about wigs and toupees,

and they have gained an unfavorable light amongst many

people because they were so obvious on the wearer.

Today�s toupees and wigs are often made of real hair and

are very well styled, causing them to look more natural on

the wearer. These hairpieces are held in place by aff ixing

adhesive to the scalp and stay in place through vigorous

exercise. Of course you will need to seek a professionally

made toupee in order to make it worth your while, and you

should purchase at least two so that you can maintain them

properly, servicing one while wearing the other. A

professionally styled and f itted toupee is expected to cost

upward of $600 to $1000 in today�s market. Of course no

one wants to go through the embarrassment of wearing the

obvious �rug� on top of your head, so if you are not willing

to spend the money it takes to purchase a professional


toupee then it is probably best to not wear any hairpiece at

all.

Structured hairpieces as they are called are a semi-surgical

approach that permanently attaches hair to the scalp by

stitching the hair to the bald scalp. This procedure is not

recommended, as it is a process that involves introducing a

foreign materia l to the scalp. Most ethical surgeons do not

perform this procedure any longer as they are generally

deemed to be ethically inappropriate. If this procedure is

recommended to you, get a second opinion from a trusted

physician.

A much safer procedure is hair weaving, yet this can only

be used if hair is thinning and large balding areas are not

present. The process is a lso called hair intensif ication or

hair integration. Strands of synthetic or real hair are

braided or weaved into your own existing hair giving an

appearance of a full head of hair. This procedure does have

its drawbacks, because it can make the scalp dif f icult to

access, interfer ing with proper hair and scalp maintenance

necessary for the health of your remaining natural hair, and

this method can also stress existing hair s ince the artif icia l

hair introduced through weaving is attached to it. This

method is usually expensive, costing several thousand

dollars per application, and being that because of the

aforementioned drawbacks it can only be left in for a few

weeks at a time it is usually impractical for the average

person.


It is highly recommended that one seek professional

assistance with these procedures from licensed beauticians

or barbers, and have a patch test done to the skin if using

adhesives to test for skin sensitivities. Extra care must be

taken to maintain cleanliness of the hair and scalp when

wearing added hair in order to maintain the health of

existing hair and the scalp in general. Of course, if you are

undergoing chemotherapy or are in the early stages of

diagnosed alopecia areata then these procedures should be

avoided as the hair they are connected to is likely to fa ll

out as well. Either waiting for a period of time or obtaining

a full prosthesis is recommended in these cases.

Yet still there is another type of treatment which is a spray

of micro f ibers made up of the same substance that hair is

made of: keratin. If your hair is s imply thinning, while you

are investigating a more permanent solution to your hair

loss problems or in the process of employing a particular

process that takes some time, you can use these

substances to cosmetically produce the appearance of

thicker and fuller hair. The substance is marketed under

several dif ferent names, one such being Topik®. Being a

temporary solution it is relatively inexpensive, and can

provide some immediate aesthetic results to bolster

conf idence and optimism as you work on more permanent

solutions.


Over The Counter Treatments

The most popular over-the-counter hair restoration drug

today is Rogaine®, a brand of topical monoxidi l solution by

Pf izer Corporation, approved for over the counter sale in

1997 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Monoxidi l

was or iginally used as a blood pressure medication, and

then doctors found that it produced the side effect of

increased scalp hair growth. Today monoxidi l remains the

only FDA approved pharmaceutical topical solution proven

to grow hair. In the preliminary studies held in 1985, 55%

of men tested were able to re-grow hair with extra strength

Rogaine® (5% topical monoxidi l treatment), a lthough the

best results came from those who had been balding for less

than 10 years and were bald in a section of four inches

across or less. Another test study compared the results of

regular strength Rogaine® (2% topical monox idi l solution)

with the extra strength version, and found that subjects

grew 45% more hair with the extra strength Rogaine® than

with the regular strength Rogaine®, and users of both

solutions outgrew the users of the placebo. Only 6% of

those tested experienced any type of irr itation. Rogaine®

works by blocking the product ion of DHT. Of course there

are generic brands of topical monoxidil solut ion also on the

market. Rogaine® was or iginally made only for men�s use,

and then a women�s version of the drug was produced.

Simi lar results were achieved with the women�s version. As

with both men�s and women�s versions, users must take


note that continuous use of the drug is necessary to

maintain the newly grown hair, as it is a usual reaction for

newly growing hair to stop growing and fall out when one

ceases to use the drug. As with any drug, follow all

directions and cease to use if irr itation or discomfort

persists.

Of course many people choose not to use drugs to treat

condit ions, because they want to avoid the use of chemicals

and their possible side effects. In this case, there are

several treatments in existence that have been found to

block the production of DHT and thus work similar ly to

topical monoxidi l products. As mentioned earlier, Saw

Palmetto has been used effectively to block DHT in the

treatment of prostatic disease, and is now being explored

for its effectiveness in stimulating hair growth. Traditionally

it has been used by herbalists to stimulate hair growth

effectively. Nettles, usually taken in the form of Nettle Root

Extract has shown itself to be effective in preventing hair

loss as well. More information on these was covered in the

section called Natural Hair Remedies.


Prescription Drug Treatments

While topical solut ions such as Rogaine® brand monoxidi l

have been used to treat hair loss, Propecia® brand

Finaster ide by Merck & Company, Inc. is the only FDA

approved pill approved for the prevention of hair loss and

possible hair re-growth. Like Rogaine®, Propecia® was

discovered when its generic equivalent being used for

another purpose was found to have benef icia l s ide effects.

F inaster ide is the generic name for the drug, which was

already in existence for quite some time and had been

produced under the name Proscar® by Merck & Company

and used for treatment of enlarged prostates, a syndrome

medically called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is

caused by an overproduction of DHT, which causes the

prostate to grow. Many BHP patients were also suffer ing

with MPB, and when patients began taking Proscar®, they

noticed the re-growth of hair a lso. This sparked new testing

and the birth of Propecia® as a hair restoration drug. The

approval of Propecia® by the FDA was easy to achieve,

s ince it was merely marketing already approved Finaster ide

as a hair restoration drug, with a much smaller dosage than

that required for BPH.

Propecia® is being prescr ibed by doctors to some patients

as an oral treatment to internally block the production of

DHT. Propecia is an androgen hormone inhib itor only

approved for men, and has been clinical ly proven to grow


hair on a signif icant percentage of men who suffer with

Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) or more properly androgenetic

alopecia. Unfortunately, the drug has not been approved

for use by women at this time. This is especially true for

women who are pregnant or can become pregnant, because

the process of inhib iting testosterone from being converted

to DHT can affect secondary sex character istics of unborn

fetuses.

Propecia® works by reversing the shrinkage of hair follicles

that are in the telogen phase, or last phase of the normal

hair cycle. Propecia® works best in combination with topical

treatments of Monoxidil such as Rogaine®. Participants in

studies have seen hair grow in as litt le as six months,

whereas those who have seen no results in a year �s time

are reported not likely to see any results from the drug.

One round of testing of over 2,000 men with androgenetic

alopecia over a four-year period showed half with reported

new hair growth.

Side effects of Propecia® in a few persons studied include

diminished sex dr ive, dif f iculty in achieving an erection,

and a decreased sperm production. Side effects were found

in less than three percent of participants in clin ical studies.

Fortunately when the drug�s use was discontinued, the side

effects went away and normal functions resumed. Of

course there are some who say that the growth of new hair

is worth the cost of a drop in libido . Only you can decide

whether this s ide effect is worth the personal cost to you.

F inaster ide is metabolized pr imarily by the liver, and


therefore anyone suffer ing with liver disease may not be

able to take the drug, and should consult a physician.

Addit ional ly, as with Monoxidil, it can mask PSA levels, thus

caution should be used if used by patients with elevated

PSA levels, as it may be dif f icult to read levels properly

when diagnosing potentia l prostate cancer. Of course

proper consultation with your physician wil l help determine

if taking Finaster ide treatments such as Propecia® is r ight

for you.

An interesting phenomena concerning Propecia® is the

dramatic r ise in pr ice it caused for F inaster ide when it

entered the market as a hair restoration drug. Propecia® is

s imply a 1mg version of F inaster ide, a drug that was

already being marketed as Proscar® for BPH by the same

company that markets Propecia®, Merck & Company, Inc.

Therefore there should not be an increase of any kind in

the cost of production of F inaster ide, s ince it was simply

being marketed under a new name at a much smaller

dosage. Merck & Company therefore was prepared to

introduce Propecia at the pr ice of $1.25 per pill or $37.50

for a 30-day supply in 1998. However, after

reconsiderations it was decided that Propecia would be

introduced at $50 for a one-month supply. This is compared

to a 30-day supply of Proscar® which is 5mg Finaster ide

being marketed at $55-60.00 for a 30-day supply. The pr ice

was adjusted to be in the range of Rogaine® Extra

Strength. The pr ice of Propecia® today in 2004 is in the

range of $130 for a 30-day supply, while Proscar® pr ices

have r isen at a much slower pace, and is now less


expensive than the same Finaster ide drug that is 1/5th the

dosage. Doctors of course are discouraged by

pharmaceutical companies to prescr ibe Proscar for cosmetic

treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Of course there are

always going to be those who f ind ways to circumvent this.

Therefore, many have been driven to f ind ways to purchase

Proscar® and divide the pill into fourths or f if ths instead of

paying the exorbitant pr ices for the very same Finaster ide.


Summary

Hair is a living protein, and as with any living part of our

bodies we must be sure to maintain proper health to

optimize our chances of maintaining a healthy head of hair.

Proper nutr it ion is vita l to maintaining healthy hair, s ince

the hair is a living and growing part of the body�s system.

Viewing it in this manner can help us to treat our bodies

dif ferent and raise expectations through proper care. A

healthy balanced diet, occasionally with the help of vitamin

and mineral supplements and exercise are all key

components to a healthy regimen of maintaining healthy

hair.

Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) or androgenetic alopecia is

the condition that over 95% of persons that suffer hair loss

have, and it is caused by a r ise in DHT, a direct component

of testosterone. The scientif ic developments of the past two

decades have brought hope and promise to many who

suffer with this type of hair loss. Treatments like Rogaine®,

Rogaine® for Women, Propecia, and improved surgical

treatments have brought relief to many who would have

previously had to settle for gradual hair loss, wigs, or

hairpieces. The discovery of the role of DHT in preventing

hair loss has even opened the doors to possible herbal

solutions to hair loss prevention, such as saw palmetto,

nettles, rosemary and horsetail. Even more promising is the

fact that the hair loss commonly known as androgenetic


alopecia is found to occur mainly in Western civilization or

those who have adopted the ways of Western civilization,

meaning that there may be dietary practices that contr ibute

to hair loss and therefore giving hope to the possibility that

diet could control not only temporary hair loss, but

androgenetic alopecia as well.

Doctors and scientists are studying DHT production in the

body to understand it more thoroughly. There is an obvious

link to hair loss and prostatic health and this only increases

the pace of hair loss discoveries. Most treatments for

prostatic diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia

(BPH) also have the pleasant side affect of growing hair on

the heads of those taking it. With the pace of research and

discoveries today, there is a great deal of optimism in the

f ie ld of hair loss prevention. Hair is an important part of

our dress and appearance, therefore a large part of our

self-esteem. It is likely that there are answers for your

situation presently or coming in the near future.

Remember, the restoration of hair growth is not an

overnight process. The process takes time regardless of the

method chosen. Be patient and follow as much of the

advice given by professionals as possible. Keep in mind that

the body is a system, and it is the abuse of this system by

food intake and environmental causes that lead to most

common hair loss. Through returning the body back to its

natural state, hair growth can be restored. Good health to

you!


Resources for Hair Care and Hair Loss Prevention

These books, websites, and reports may prove helpful to

you if you wish to read further about MPB or androgenetic

alopecia and its prevention.

Alopecia Areata: Understanding and Coping with Hair Loss

by Wendy Thompson, M.A. and Jerry Shapiro, M.D. John

Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1996.

Hair Loss Prevention Through Natural Remedies: A

Prescr iption for Healthier Hair by Ken Peters, David Stuss,

and Nick Waddell. Apple Publish ing Company, Ltd.,

Vancouver, Br itish Columbia, Canada, 1994.

The Hair Replacement Revolution: A Consumer�s Guide to

Effective Hair Replacement Techniques by James Harr is and

Emanuel Marr itt. Square One Publishers.

Bald No More by Morton Walker. Kensington Publish ing

Corporation.

Your Hair: Helping to Keep It: Treatment and Prevention by

Neil Sadick and Donald Charles Richardson. St. Martin�s

Press.

The Bald Truth by Spencer David Kobren, Diane B. Eisman,

and Eugene H. Eisman. Pocket Books.


Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative by Dr. John O.A.

Pagano. The Pagano Organization, Englewood Cl if fs, NJ, 2nd

Pr inting, 1995.

Propecia: The Hair-Growth Breakthrough by Othneil J.

Seiden, M.D. Pr ima Health Publ ishers, Rocklin, CA, 1998.

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), P.O. Box

150760, San Rafael, CA 94915-0760, (415) 472-3780

The National Psoriasis Foundation at 6600 SW 92nd Ave.,

Suite 300, Portland, OR 97223-7195, (503) 244-7404 or

(800) 723-9166

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